Eastern Visayas leader-activists harassed by military agents

TACLOBAN CITY – Harrasments against leaders of progressive organizations in Eastern Visayas such as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Eastern Visayas and its member organizations and People Surge escalated under the Duterte administration especially after the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has been terminated according to human rights group Katungod Eastern Visayas.

In a facebook post, alliance for disaster survivors People Surge updated that their provincial chapter president in Western Samar, Ma. Rechielle Yrigon, including her family has been receiving threats from the government’s intel agents.

“Members of the Regular Mobile Group (RMG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) went to the house of People Surge Western Samar Chairperson Ma. Rechielle Yrigon at Brgy. Balud, Calbayog City yesterday, September 12. Yrigon was then brought to Gandara police station, a town next to Calbayog City, where she was interrogated before she was allowed to go home,” the post reads.

Yrigon, along with other People Surge officers, are being tagged as supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army.

Katungod Eastern Visayas, in an interview with the Eastern Vista team, said that the intense surveillance and harassments among leader-activists is Duterte’s way of silencing people’s organizations who have been very vocal against his anti-people programs.

It was also disclosed that the office of Katungod Eastern Visayas, Bayan Eastern Visayas and Samahan han Gudti nga mga Parag-uma (Sagupa) Eastern Visayas is being monitored daily by intel agents. It can be recalled that the office of Bayan Eastern Visayas was entered by unknown men in November last year, seizing important gadgets and files.

Cases of tailings by alleged military officers have also been recorded among members of the youth organizations Anakbayan Eastern Visayas and Pulso han Mag-aaram. Sightings of intel agents within the vicinity of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) office has also been recorded.

“We are noting these harrassments against us and rest assured that we’ll make the necessary actions,” said Katungod Eastern Visayas.

“If Duterte is doing this to impede the people’s movement against his tyrannical rule, we are here to tell him that he will fail,” the human rights group concluded.

Eastern Vista

Eastern Vista is an alternative media organization in Eastern Visayas. Stories of people in the struggle for justice and aid after super typhoon Yolanda inspired its creation in 2014. Eastern Vista is also a co-producer of Lingganay han Kamatuoran, a Waray-based radio magazine program airing since 2003.
From Eastern Philippines, Eastern Vista shares the news and views from a people rising.